Why You Should Buy Preserved Food (Canned, Dried, Frozen, Salted, Pickled)

Anonymous

Preserved foods last longer in the pantry

The thing with preserved foods is that they are preserved. So naturally, they have a long shelf life. Fresh foods are prone to rotting, but preserved foods can be stored in the pantry, basement or freezer for weeks, months or maybe even a year. Plus, if the can is still in good condition, then the contents may still be edible.

Long shelf life!
Long shelf life!

Preserved foods are usually picked during peak ripeness

Canned and frozen produce are typically picked when they are fully ripe and ready to eat. They are immediately processed into cans and bags. In contrast, that fresh fruit or vegetable you are eating may be picked before ripening, hence not ready to eat.

Preserved foods can be used just like fresh foods

Frozen fruits can be used in smoothies and fruit sorbets or as toppings on other desserts. You can also eat them right from the bag as a treat or dessert. Frozen vegetables can be used in stir-frys, casseroles, soups and stews.

This bag of frozen berries can be eaten like ice cream
This bag of frozen berries can be eaten like ice cream

Preserved foods can be found everywhere, including Dollar Stores

You can find preserved foods everywhere, including dollar stores. Dollar Tree has canned, dried, salted, pickled, and if there is a freezer aisle, frozen produce. But, I won't recommend them, because these foods may be of lower quality. The dried beans and rice are okay and edible, but the cans may be lined with BPA, the dried fruits may contain too many additives and the frozen fruits and veggies look very unappealing. While the dried beans and rice are of good quality, the price is not any cheaper than what you'll find in a regular grocery store.

However, if you are really stranded in the middle of a Food Desert and there is a Dollar Tree nearby, then you have no choice but to shop at Dollar Tree for groceries, unless you want to take the bus to a full-service supermarket that is 30-60 minutes away.

Dollar Tree has canned, dried, salted, pickled and sometimes even frozen produce
Dollar Tree has canned, dried, salted, pickled and sometimes even frozen produce

Preserved foods taste great

Canned fruits, dried fruits, salted meats, pickled vegetables, and frozen fruits taste delicious and can be used as snacks between meals or part of a complete meal.

Kimchi - a Korean household staple
Kimchi - a Korean household staple

If you are growing food yourself, then you need to preserve food anyway

If you are growing food in your private garden, then by harvest time, you have to eat them right away, the moment that they are picked, but if your bountiful harvest is too large for your belly, then you have to find proper ways to store them. You can can them, dry them, salt them, pickle them and freeze them. Then, you may have food for the coming winter.

Even if you don't grow any food yourself, then you can just eat the food that is grown and preserved by others. Many agricultural companies may have employees harvest the crops as soon as they are ripe and process the produce into preserved goods. Commercially sold preserved goods are what you should eat, by the way, because commercial fresh goods are usually picked before they are even ripe, may be stored for a long period of time before they are even sold on the market, and are not shelf-stable (unless you put them in the freezer). The only time when you should eat actual fresh produce is when you know the fresh produce have been picked on the day that you are eating them or maybe a few days prior. That's how you know the food is actually fresh.

Why You Should Buy Preserved Food (Canned, Dried, Frozen, Salted, Pickled)
17 Opinion